Substrate processing apparatus

Abstract

An SOI substrate which has a thick SOI layer is first prepared. Then, the SOI layer is thinned to a target film thickness using as a unit a predetermined thickness not more than that of one lattice. This thinning is performed by repeating a unit thinning step which includes an oxidation step of oxidizing the surface of the SOI layer by the predetermined thickness not more than that of one lattice and a removal step of selectively removing silicon oxide formed by the oxidation. The SOI layer of the SOI substrate is chemically etched by supplying a chemical solution to the SOI layer, and the film thickness of the etched SOI layer is measured. When the measured film thickness of the SOI layer has a predetermined value, a process of chemically etching the SOI layer ends.

Description

[0001] This application is a division of application Ser. No. 10 / 841,621, filed May 10, 2004, which is incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to a substrate manufacturing method and substrate processing apparatus and, more particularly, to a substrate manufacturing method suitable for manufacturing a substrate which has an Si layer with a precisely adjusted thickness on an insulating layer, and a substrate processing apparatus. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] A substrate which has an Si layer on an insulating layer is known as an SOI (Silicon On Insulator) substrate. As SOI substrate manufacturing methods, SIMOX (Separation by IMplantation of OXygen), bonding, and the like are known. [0004] SIMOX is a technique for implanting oxygen ions in an Si substrate at a predetermined depth and then annealing the substrate at a high temperature to form a buried silicon oxide layer. [0005] Bonding is a method of bonding the first substra...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a substrate with a silicon layer on an insulating layer that can control the thickness of the silicon layer and reduce defects. This is achieved by performing a thinning step with a unit thinning step including an oxidation step and a removal step. Additionally, the invention provides a substrate processing apparatus that can chemically etch a semiconductor layer and measure the thickness of the layer in real-time to stop the etching process when the desired thickness is reached. The invention also provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor substrate by forming a semiconductor substrate, chemically etching the semiconductor layer, measuring the film thickness, and stopping the etching process when the desired film thickness is reached.

Problems solved by technology

Since polishing is a machine work, it is difficult for the present to stop polishing so as to maintain a high precision of ±1 nm or less with respect to a target film thickness.

A stress which may be generated by these steps is more likely to cause defects with a decrease in thickness of the layer to serve as the SOI layer.

However, in polishing, the SOI layer is mechanically damaged to cause defects.

In both of sacrificial oxidation and etching using the SC-1 cleaning solution, the surface roughness of the SOI layer may degrade.

If process conditions vary due to a change in concentration of a chemical solution or the like, it is difficult to precisely control the etching amount or film thickness.

This makes the work inefficient.

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